Tree Slide

ABSTRACT

A tree slide facilitating movement of a Christmas tree via sliding along a support surface without damage to the surface is described. The tree slide includes a central region of substantially planar extent and an arcuate perimeter which surrounds and extends from the central region. The arcuate perimeter forms a cavity along one side of the tree slide. In some embodiments, a rim is provided which extends from the arcuate perimeter opposite of the central region. In other embodiments, the tree slide could also include a cover, composed of a stretchable and conformable material, which conceals a tree stand and the tree slide.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional applicationSer. No. 12/664,976 filed Dec. 16, 2009 which is a national phaseapplication of PCT Application No. PCT/US2009/035788 filed Mar. 3, 2009which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 61/068,939filed Mar. 11, 2008 and 61/107,874 filed Oct. 23, 2008, all entitledTree Slide, which are hereby incorporated in their entirety by referencethereto.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

None.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention generally relates to a device facilitating movement of aChristmas tree via sliding along a support surface without damagethereto. Specifically, the invention includes a pliable and resilientmat-like element having an arcuate perimeter and an optional cover toconceal the tree slide and stand thereon.

2. Background

The winter holidays often include the purchase and decoration of aChristmas tree. The tree is placed within a stand to support it in anupright orientation. Thereafter, the tree is decorated by hangingornaments and the like across a vast majority of the circumference ofthe tree. As such, it is desirous that the tree be located away fromwalls and the like. Upon completion of the decoration process, the treeis then lifted, ever so gently, and placed in a corner formed by two ormore walls or along a single wall. The act of lifting a tree isresponsible for many skeletal and muscular injuries, including, but notlimited to, regions involving the back, neck, legs and arms.

As is readily apparent from the discussions above, the related arts donot include a device which facilitates movement and placement of aChristmas tree within a room prior to and after decoration that does notrequire the tree to be physically lifted.

Therefore, what is required is a sliding device which facilitates themovement of a tree prior to and after decoration along a horizontalsurface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a sliding device whichfacilitates the movement of a tree prior to and after decoration along ahorizontal surface.

The tree slide includes a central region of substantially planar extentand an arcuate perimeter which surrounds and extends from the centralregion. The arcuate perimeter forms a cavity along the lower side of thetree slide. In some embodiments, a rim is provided which surrounds andextends from the arcuate perimeter opposite of the central region.

In other embodiments, the cavity avoids compression of a structure, oneexample being carpet, disposed along a horizontal surface so as tosecure the tree slide along the horizontal surface after properplacement of a tree.

In yet other embodiments, the arcuate perimeter is sufficiently raisedabove the central region so as to contain a fluid disposed along thecentral region.

In yet other embodiments, both central region and rim are aligned in ahorizontal fashion.

In yet other embodiments, the rim extends below the central region so asto deflect when the tree slide is placed on a horizontal surface. Inpreferred embodiments, the tree slide provides a vacuum adjacent to thecavity so as to secure the tree slide to the horizontal surface.

In yet other embodiments, the tree slide includes a cover, composed of astretchable and conformable material, which conceals a tree stand andthe tree slide.

In yet other embodiments, the cover includes a pocket about theperimeter of the cover and includes an elastic element which is shorterthan the perimeter.

The described invention provides advantages over the related arts. Theinvention facilitates movement of a tree without lifting, therebyminimizing the displacement of ornaments and lights hung on the tree.The invention secures a tree along a horizontal surface after placement.The invention facilitates movement of a tree via sliding without damageto carpet, tile, linoleum or other floor surfaces. The invention iscompatible with a wide variety of tree stand designs.

The above and other objectives, features, and advantages of thepreferred embodiments of the invention will become apparent from thefollowing description read in connection with the accompanying drawings,in which like referenced numerals designate the same or similarelements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Additional aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will beunderstood and will become more readily apparent when the invention isconsidered in the light of the following description made in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the tree slide disposedbetween a tree stand supporting a tree structure and a horizontalsurface in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an arcuate perimeter disposedabout a central region and an optional rim disposed about the arcuateperimeter of the tree slide in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view illustrating the central region, arcuateperimeter, and rim of a tree slide in accordance with one embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross section view illustrating the central region, arcuateperimeter, and rim of a tree slide in accordance with one embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross section view illustrating the tree slide supportedalong a horizontal surface covered by carpet and showing the pileuncompressed within the cavity under the arcuate perimeter structure andcompressed along the central region and rim.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevation view illustrating a hand contacting anddeflecting the rim and arcuate perimeter for application of a slidingforce in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is cross section view illustrating an offset of the outercircumference of the arcuate perimeter to avoid contact with ahorizontal surface in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 a is a cross section view illustrating a rim which extends belowthe central region in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 b is a cross section view illustrating deflection of the rim andarcuate perimeter when placed on a horizontal surface and the formationof an optional vacuum between tree slide and horizontal surface inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a cover disposed about andcovering a tree stand and tree slide.

FIG. 10 is a cross section view illustrating a cover attached about atree slide and tree stand so that the stretchable perimeter of the coverresides along the bottom surface of the slide in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to several preferred embodiments ofthe invention that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in thedrawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts orsteps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, the invention, generally referred to as atree slide 1, is composed of a unitary structure having a substantiallyplanar central region 4, an arcuate perimeter 5, and an optional rim 6arranged in the order described. The central region 4, arcuate perimeter5, and rim 6 could form a circular element as shown in FIGS. 1-3 or anyother shape including, but not limited to, an ellipse or polygon.

The arcuate perimeter 5 could be a structure with a shaped crosssection, examples including, but not limited to, u-shapes and v-shapes,which forms a cavity 16 along the lower surface of the tree slide 1, asrepresented in FIG. 4. The arcuate perimeter 5 is disposed about theperimeter of the central region 4. It is preferred for the arcuateperimeter 5 to extend above the central region 4 so as to form a basinwithin which water or a fluid is contained when spilled during wateringof a tree. Also, it is preferred for the central region 4 to be at leastas wide as the base dimensions of a tree stand 2 without contacting thearcuate perimeter 5. Further, it is preferred for the arcuate perimeter5 to be located about the central region 4 so as to minimize or avoidrelative motion between tree slide 1 and tree stand 2 as the tree slide3 is moved along a horizontal surface 9.

Referring again to FIG. 4, the central region 4 is a planar structurewhich contacts and is attached to one end of the arcuate perimeter 5. InFIG. 4, the arcuate perimeter 5 is a ring-shaped structure, althoughother shapes are possible including, but not limited to, curves,ellipses and polygons. The optional rim 6 is also a substantially planarstructure which contacts and is attached to the arcuate perimeter 5opposite of the central region 4. The central region 4, arcuateperimeter 5, and rim 6 are preferred to be composed of a material withuniform thickness. However, in some embodiments it could be preferred tovary the thickness of each region to alter the stiffness or bendingcharacteristics along the tree slide 1.

The tree slide 1 could be composed of a plastic which is formable viamethods understood in the molding arts. For example, the tree slide 1could be formed by hot pressing a planar sheet of polyethylene orpolypropylene within a die set having the substantially planar shapes ofthe central region 4 and rim 6 and arcuate shape of the arcuateperimeter 5. Other cross sectional shapes are possible for the arcuateperimeter 5, including linear and curved designs. In some embodiments,it could be preferred to texture the upper surface 18 of the tree slide1 or apply a non-skid layer to reduce sliding between tree stand 2 andcentral region 4 as the tree slide 1 is moved along a surface in asliding motion. In yet other embodiments, it could be preferred to applya low friction coating, examples including, but not limited to,polytetrafluourethylene and polyethylene, along the lower surface 19 ofthe central region 4 to reduce friction between the tree slide 1 and ahorizontal surface 9.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a preferred embodiment of the tree slide 1 isshown resting on a horizontal surface 9 and contacting a carpet 7. Aforce 10 is applied onto the tree slide 1 by a tree structure 3 via thetree stand 2 causing compression of the pile 8 along the carpet 7beneath the central region 4 and rim 6. The pile 8 beneath the arcuateperimeter 5 could remain uncompressed so as to fill the cavity 16 formedby the arcuate perimeter 5. This arrangement ensures that the tree slide1 resists further sliding motion after a tree is properly positionedalong a floor covered by carpet 7 or the like.

Referring now to FIG. 6, one edge of the tree slide 1 is shown whereby ahand 12 and fingers 11 are placed under the tree slide 1 and the rim 6and arcuate perimeter 5 are deflected upwards away from a horizontalsurface 9. The tree slide 1 is preferred to be composed of a pliable orbendable material which allows for deflection of the arcuate perimeter 5and/or rim 6 by a hand 12 and fingers 11, yet which is sufficientlyresilient so as to return to its original shape after distorting forcesare removed. The arcuate perimeter 5 and/or rim 6 are grasped by hand 12and fingers 11 and a sliding force 13 is applied for movement of thetree slide 1 in a sliding fashion along a horizontal surface 9.

Referring now to FIG. 7, an alternate embodiment is shown whereby theouter circumference of the tree slide 1 is disposed at an offset 17above a horizontal surface 9. The gap formed by the offset 17facilitates the insertion of fingers 11 into the cavity 16 under thearcuate perimeter 5.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 a-8 b, an alternate embodiment is shown wherebythe rim 6 and outer portion of the arcuate perimeter 5 extend below thecentral region 4 by an offset 14. The placement of this embodiment alonga horizontal surface 9 and application of a force 10 by a tree structure3 via a tree stand 2 causes both rim 6 and arcuate perimeter 5 todeflect so as to conform to the horizontal surface 9. When thehorizontal surface 9 is a smooth surface, examples including, but notlimited to, wood, linoleum, or tile, air between tree slide 1 andhorizontal surface 9 is expelled so as to form a low pressure field 15therein. This low pressure field 15 could be sufficient to preventsliding motion between tree slide 1 and a floor after proper placement.The vacuum described here is relieved by slightly lifting the tree in anupward direction relative to the horizontal surface 9 or by inserting afinger 11 or hand 12 under the rim 6.

Referring now to FIGS. 9-10, the tree slide 1 could also include a cover20 which conceals the tree slide 1 and tree stand 2. The cover 20 couldbe composed of a fabric material which is stretchable or conformable,one example being spandex. The cover 20 could include an opening 21through which the tree structure 3 extends through. The cover 20 couldalso include a pocket 22 disposed about its perimeter or outercircumference. The pocket 22 could be formed by folding a portion of thecover 20 onto itself and sewing or fastening the layered material. Acord 23 or a stretchable elastic-like element could reside within thepocket 22. The cord 23 is preferred to be composed of a stretchableconstruction and have a total length less than the outer diameter of thetree slide 1.

Referring again to FIG. 10, the cover 20 is placed onto the tree slide 1and a tree is inserted and fastened to the tree stand 2. Thereafter, theperimeter of the cover 20 is stretched or pulled and then placed underthe tree slide 1 so as to contact its lower surface 20. It is preferredfor the pocket 22 with cord 23 to reside within the cavity 16 under thearcuate perimeter 5. The cover 20 could include a variety of designs orornamentation.

As is evident from the explanation above, the described tree slide isapplicable to a wide variety of tree stands used to support a decorativetree during the Christmas holidays. The tree slide has both functionaland decorative features with benefit within residential, commercial, andbusiness settings.

The description above indicates that a great degree of flexibility isoffered in terms of the invention. Although the invention has beendescribed in considerable detail with reference to certain preferredversions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit andscope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description ofthe preferred versions contained herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tree slide comprising: (a) a central region ofsubstantially planar extent, said central region sufficiently large tosupport a tree stand; and (b) an arcuate perimeter which surrounds andextends from said central region, said arcuate perimeter forms a cavitythere under, said arcuate perimeter being pliable and resilient, saidarcuate perimeter being deformable when a load is applied via a handwhereby said arcuate perimeter when deformed facilitates sliding of saidtree slide and said tree stand along a surface.
 2. The tree slide ofclaim 1, wherein said cavity minimizes compression of a coveringdisposed along said surface so as to secure said tree slide along saidsurface.
 3. The tree slide of claim 2, wherein said covering is acarpet.
 4. The tree slide of claim 1, wherein said arcuate perimeter issufficiently raised above said central region so as to contain a fluidalong said central region.
 5. The tree slide of claim 1, wherein saidcentral region contacts said surface.
 6. The tree slide of claim 1,further comprising: (c) an anti-skid layer disposed along one side ofsaid tree slide.
 7. The tree slide of claim 1, further comprising: (c) alow-friction layer disposed along one side of said tree slide.
 8. Thetree slide of claim 1, further comprising: (c) a cover which concealssaid tree stand and said tree slide, said cover composed of astretchable and conformable material with an opening facilitatingattachment of a tree to said tree stand.
 9. The tree slide of claim 8,wherein said cover is a fabric.
 10. The tree slide of claim 8, whereinsaid cover includes a pocket disposed around said cover and an elasticelement within said pocket.
 11. The tree slide of claim 10, wherein saidelastic element is a cord.